Category: All-Library News

FINAL 2022 Adult Summer Reading_Instructions

The adult summer reading program will run similarly to past years. We try to make it as simple and accessible as possible. Click on the link above for the detailed instructions.

In short, adults can pick up a brochure (and additional prize entry tickets) at the Ref Desk or download from the library website. They can read or listen to books, complete a puzzle or attend an adult program. Adults should turn in one prize entry ticket for each activity completed – there is a paint bucket to collect tickets at the Ref Desk.

Weekly prizes (gift cards) will be awarded and at the end of the summer, grand prizes will be awarded.

If you have questions, ask Beth or Peg.

Officially we are not accepting donations for the book sale due to a lack of storage.

• If someone asks, we are not accepting donations.
• If someone shows up with items, we will accept them. The donations go on the black cart labeled donations behind the circulation desk.

The receipts have moved to shelves under Circ 1 and 2 near library card applications – the spot is labeled Tax Receipts.

UDPATE Responses to the survey’s open-ended questions are here

Every couple of years the city’s Communication Specialist organizes a survey of Johnston residents. I’ve linked to the 2022 results below. The summary of library-related findings, which is very similar to the 2020 summary, is included below. Complete library-related results are on pages 24-27.

Library Services. Residents were generally satisfied with the overall quality of library services provided.
Ninety-four percent (94%) of the residents surveyed, who had an opinion, were “very satisfied” and
“satisfied” with the Johnston Public Library; 92% were satisfied with the quality of library materials,
books, DVDs magazines and etc., and 88% were satisfied with the quality of library programs, story hours
and book discussions.

Sixty-three percent (63%) of respondents indicated they had visited the Johnston Public Library
in the past year.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Qx23Kv3PmSANzweCBoE60zqf_zHNIySf/view?usp=sharing

The Johnston Arts Council is hosting an outdoor art walk this summer at Terra Park. The library is the pick-up and drop off site for the boards registrants will paint on. I’ve placed a list of registrants near the boards at the checkout desk. Each registrant gets one board. Mark the names off the list once they pick up their board.

The Pleasant Hill Public Library is having a party to celebrate their 40th anniversary on Saturday, June 4th, from 1-4 at the library.  It is located at 5151 Maple Dr. in Pleasant Hill, and here is a link with information:  https://www.pleasanthilliowa.org/library.

People who registered for the Paper Flower craft class may pick up their kits at the Reference Desk.

Before the shade structure on the west patio can be installed, the concrete there needs replaced–the current concrete pad is too out-of-level for proper installation of the structure. That work will likely start in the next couple of weeks–maybe as soon as next week.

We will be open tomorrow. The high is forecast as 81 so it should be significantly cooler in the building.

The parts we’ve been waiting for to repair the chiller have not arrived but work will begin on Monday. The contractor is hoping the parts will arrive next week.

Part-time staff who missed hours due to today’s closure are welcome to make them up. Talk to your supervisor. Full time staff and part-time staff who earn time off can use PTO.

Tomorrow is forecast to be the hottest day of 2022 so far. We will be closed. Don’t come to work. Thanks for working through a couple of sticky days. Our contractor says that the vendor says that his suppliers are not sure when the needed parts will arrive—he’s supposed to get back to me tomorrow with more information. After tomorrow, the ten day forecast looks cooler. If it comes to it, indoor air conditioners are an option. The ones that can connect to regular outlets (not a generator) can cost $200+/day to rent—a building the size of JPL would require several. Before committing to that expense, I need more information about how long this will last. As soon as I know, I will let everyone know. Thanks again.

Those of you who come to work from Des Moines via Merle Hay might want to consider an alternate route as construction gets underway later this month and traffic is reduced to two lanes. See the post linked below for more information.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=368192772004593&set=a.224162376407634

It’s going to be in the 80s next week. We are still waiting on parts to repair the air conditioning so it will be very warm inside the library. Wear whatever you’ll be most comfortable in.

The final series of the symphony season is this weekend, and we are playing Beethoven’s Overture to Consecration of the House, Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto, Starburst by Jessie Montgomery, and Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorsky.  Here is a link for purchasing online access, and you will have 30 days after the live stream to watch it:  https://my.desmoinesperformingarts.org/0/6038.

If you would like to attend in person, the concerts will take place Saturday the 7th at 7:30 PM, and Sunday the 8th at 2:30 PM at the Civic Center in downtown Des Moines.

Information about next season is available online.  We will be performing Holst’s Planets suite, Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, Saint-Saens First Cello Concerto, and much more.

Hey all,
Adult physcial book displays have been relocated to pre-Covid locations. The 2 large displays are still in the same spots, but now there is a small display in front of Circ 1 and Circ 2. The third small display is still in the nonfiction aisle in front of the cake pans. Record set locations on Polaris have been changed to reflect new physical locations.
Thanks!

I won’t be working Friday-Sunday, so I’ll need to work on time sheets on Thursday afternoon. Please have your completed time sheets in the green folder by noon. Thanks.

It’s spring which means…it’s evaluation time. Part of the process is the self evaluation. This is your chance to tell your supervisor what you think you did well in the past year, how you’d like to grow going forward, and what could be done to help make your work or your experience at work better. The self evaluation form is linked below. Please have it to your supervisor by May, 15th.  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ie_rV-jAs-aMaxzcabGF-FhXQvpCbpDF/view?usp=sharing